Rio Olympics: Sally Pearson open to mentor role following injury

SALLY Pearson could be headed to Rio as a mentor and has refused to rule out a tilt at the 2020 Olympic Games.

Sally Pearson has been ruled out of Rio due to injury

SALLY Pearson could be headed to Rio as a mentor and has refused to rule out a tilt at the 2020 Olympic Games.

Pearson announced on Thursday morning she would be withdrawing from the upcoming Olympics in Brazil after suffering a hamstring injury in training on Monday.

The 2012 London Olympics gold medallist hurdler was set to defend her title in August before suffering a shock injury during the final stages of a training session on the Gold Coast.

The 29-year-old said she could have taken the start line in Rio but would have been nowhere near her best.

“As soon as I did it, between the second and third hurdle of my last rep of the session, I knew it was going to be a very slight chance of me even trying to get back,” Pearson said.

“That was before I had scans on it to show there was probably no chance of going.

“I could go to the Olympics if I wanted to and come out of the blocks and jog to the first hurdle.

“That’s not what I’m about. I’m a competitor. This is my job and livelihood.

“For me it’s all or nothing. I can’t give my all and I won’t be for a little while now.”

Pearson shot to fame when she collected silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and produced that famous post-race interview.

She won gold at the 2011 world championships and backed it up with a stunning victory on the biggest stage in London.

Pearson has battled a number of injuries recently and suffered a horrific broken wrist when she fell at a Diamond League meet in Rome last year.

Pearson is the captain of the Australian athletics team and could still head to Brazil in a mentor capacity.

She will be the face of the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast and could race at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

“I haven’t had those (mentor) conversations with anyone at this point in time,” Pearson said.

“In the next few days and weeks I’ll have those discussions with people.

“I don’t know (if I’ll race in 2020). I’m only 29, track and field athletes can go on for a bit longer. But at this stage I’m only looking forward to 2018.”

Pearson declined to comment on the spate of golfers citing the threat of Zika virus as their reason for withdrawing from the Games.

Originally published as Rio Olympics: Sally Pearson open to mentor role following injury